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State Representative
Larry Howes

431 State Office Building, 100 Constitution Ave., St. Paul, MN 55155 (651) 296- 2451

For Immediate ReleaseFor more information contact:
April 26, 2001Renae Reedy (651-296-9895)
NEWS RELEASE
HOWES AMMENDMENT ADDRESSES PROPOSED GPS TOWER

State Representative Larry Howes has authored an amendment to current legislation in the House of Representatives that will put the brakes on a proposed Coast Guard GPS tower in McKinley Township. The Coast Guard had originally planned to build the tower in Crow Wing County, but changed their mind when they received several complaints from local residents. Now the tower is slated to be built on private farm land in rural McKinley Township.

"Residents in McKinley Township were not any more pleased with the tower proposal than those in Crow Wing County, but that hasn't seemed to make much difference to the Coast Guard so far," Howes said. "Several people from the township asked if I could do something about it, and this amendment goes as far to solve the problem as the state legislature can go."

Howes' amendment says that the Minnesota Department of Transportation, who is acting on behalf of the Coast Guard, cannot put up a GPS tower in Cass County without a resolution agreeing to the idea from the county board and from the governing board of the local city or township.

"It's a simple matter of courtesy," Howes said. "The Coast Guard should listen to the concerns of local people before they make such important decisions."

Howes has spoken with Congressman James Oberstar's office about the GPS tower and his legislation and they are supporting the amendment and agree that it should be given fair consideration in the Legislature. Unfortunately, regardless of the fate of Howes' legislation, the Coast Guard has the power of eminent domain and can legally build the tower in McKinley Township if they want to.

"I know that we don't have the final say on this issue, but I want this legislation to send a message to the Coast Guard," Rep. Howes said. "They shouldn't just come in and pick a spot for their tower without good consideration about what makes sense."

Howes went on to say that the tower should not be put in the middle of farm land like the Coast Guard is proposing. "It should go in an industrial area or somewhere where it will have the least impact on residential areas," he said.

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